Diabetes – What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a serious illness that affects millions each year. It happens when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or when it can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.
Exercise, diet and medication can all help in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease. It’s also important to be aware of symptoms to be able to tell if something is wrong and seek treatment.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is an ongoing (long-lasting) health condition that affects the way your body transforms food into energy. It occurs when the pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin or isn’t able to use it as effectively as it should.
Insulin is the hormone that aids your body absorb and utilize glucose, also referred to as sugar. People with type 2 diabetes do not produce enough insulin, or their bodies can’t make it in a proper way.
In both types of diabetes, the blood sugar levels become too high in time. This can lead to issues with the kidneys, eyes and feet. It could also cause damage to blood vessels in your heart as well as the brain.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and means that your body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cell in the pancreas. The destruction can take place over several months or even years before resulting in the complete absence of insulin.
Insulin is required by people with type 1 diabetes all day. They also need to monitor their blood glucose levels and adjust the insulin, food and activity levels to keep their blood sugar within a healthy range.
Type 2 diabetes
If you suffer from type 2 diabetes your body doesn’t make use of insulin as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps your cells get blood sugar (glucose) out of your blood and into your cells so that it can be used for energy.
Type 2 diabetics need to exercise and follow a healthy diet. They may also need to take medications to control their blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetes in women
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects people of all races and ethnicities and ages as well as genders. Women are more at risk than males.
Women with diabetes are at a greater risk chance of developing complications than men, including heart disease (the most common diabetes complication) and loss of vision.
Polydipsia is a sign of warning for women with diabetes. This is because diabetes can cause excess sugar to accumulate in your bloodstream and your kidneys are not able to remove it.
Diabetes in men: Symptoms
In diabetes, cells are unable to make use of blood sugar (glucose) to produce energy. This is usually because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.
This can result in high blood glucose levels. Your body then tries to lower these levels by flushing excess glucose from your bloodstream via urine.
People suffering from diabetes frequently are thirsty and have to drink large quantities of fluids. It can be as much as 4 liters a day.
The men may also lose weight because their bodies make use of muscles for energy instead of fat. This is due to their blood sugar levels stay high for long periods.
Diabetes diet
Developing a healthy diabetes diet is a key element in managing your diabetes. It can help control blood sugar levels, manage weight and decrease the risk factors for heart disease.
Your diet should consist of a wide range of whole food items, including fruits whole grains, vegetables beans, low-fat dairy and legumes. It should be free of saturated (unhealthy) fats and added sugars.
You may also want to limit the amount of drinks that contain sugar you consume. These drinks typically contain plenty of sugar in them that can cause high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes medication
Your doctor may prescribe diabetic medications to help keep your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels in an acceptable range. These medicines are usually combined with lifestyle changes, such as exercising and diet to help control your diabetes.
If your blood sugar levels aren’t well controlled by one medicine another medicine could be added. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best medication for your specific needs and preferences.
The latest medications, including sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists, lower blood sugar levels and provide benefits for the kidneys and cardiovascular system, as well as decreasing the risk of developing complications. They also aid in weight loss and are available in injectable and tablet forms.